When podcasters talk about growth, the conversation almost always starts and ends with downloads. How many downloads did this episode get? How fast did it get them? Did it outperform the last episode? But focusing only on downloads can give you a very warped view of how your podcast is actually performing. One of the most overlooked and misunderstood metrics in podcasting is unique listeners, and it is quietly one of the most important indicators of whether your show is healthy, sustainable, and worth continuing. If you have ever felt disheartened by your download numbers or confused about what your stats really mean, understanding unique listeners can completely change how…